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C-MASAD-82-12 1 (1982-02-25)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabcyt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: oo J I a - This is an unclassified aigest furnished in lieu of a report containing classified security information. /1770/ REPORT BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES THE AIR FORCE LANTIRN PROGRAM MUST SURMOUNT SOME FORMIDABLE DIFFICULTIES DIGEST The Air Force's Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared System for Night (LANTIRN), began full-scale engineering development in August 1979. It has experienced considerable cost growth and major technical difficulties serious enough for the Air Force to have re- cently lengthened the weapon's development and flight testing schedules by more than a year. The estimated program cost has increased over 70 percent from about $1 billion to almost $1.8 billion in slightly more than a year. The LANTIRN program provides for the development of two major subsystems--a head-up display and a fire control system. These are to be used with the A-10 and the F-16 aircraft. If successfully developed, LANTIRN could provide these aircraft with improved navigational and targeting capa- bility that would enable them to be used in night operations and under low cloud ceilings. This capability could considerably increase the number of sorties and provide more time in which to conduct tactical operations. (See pp. 1 and 2.) LANTIRN MAY NO LONGER BE COST EFFECTIVE Two major assumptions, which were the basis for the Air Force concluding in early studies that LANTIRN was cost effective, no longer appear to be valid. It is still uncertain that single-seat aircraft, such as the F-16 and the A-1O, can be operated at the low alti- tudes envisioned by the studies without creating an excessive workload for the pilot. This matter is still under study. Second, costs assumed in the Air Force studies have more than tripled. The acquisition and installation costs of the LANTIRN pods now exceed $5 million for each aircraft. The Air Force is making another cost- effectiveness study that is assessing LANTIRN's performance at altitudes considered more man- ageable for the pilot. The study is also assuming higher LANTIRN costs. Air Force C-MASAD-82-12 FEBRUARY 25,1982 117701

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